Keir Starmer accused of breaking guidelines over items of garments to spouse Victoria

Keir Starmer is alleged to have broken Parliament’s rules by failing to declare donations of clothes for his wife.

Gifts of high end clothes, alterations and a personal shopper for Victoria Starmer from Labour donor Lord Alli, were not initially declared in the register of MPs’ interests. MPs are required to register gifts and donations within 28 days.

However the Sunday Times reported that the Prime Minister approached the parliamentary authorities on Tuesday to make a late declaration after being given updated advice on what needed to be registered.

A No10 spokeswoman said: “We sought advice from the authorities on coming to office. We believed we had been compliant, however, following further interrogation this month, we have declared further items.”

The guide to the Commons rules states MPs should register “any benefit given to any third party, whether or not this accompanied a benefit for him or her, if the Member is aware, or could reasonably be expected to be aware, of the benefit and that it was given because of his or her membership of the House or parliamentary or political activities”.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisted it was “not a transparency issue”. He told Sky News: “It’s actually the PM seeking to comply with the rules, and we all do that, we will do this with full transparency. ‘I got a donation, here’s what I used it for’.”

Mr Lammy, who said his own suit was from TM Lewin, argued that “there isn’t a budget for the PM’s clothes or his wife’s clothes” like in the US, where the President and the First Lady have a “substantial budget” so they can’t be criticised over their outfits.

Lord Alli’s involvement with the Labour leader has already proved controversial after it emerged he had been given a Downing Street security pass without apparently having a government role. The row was dubbed the “passes for glasses” affair because Lord Alli has previously donated tens of thousands of pounds worth of clothing, accommodation and “multiple pairs” of spectacles to the Labour leader.

Mr Lammy defended Lord Alli, saying he was a “self-made millionaire that has been a supporter and a donor to the Labour Party over successive leaders and PMs”. “There really isn’t anything new,” he said.

The Tories demanded a probe into the Starmers’ links with Lord Alli following the news. A Conservative Party spokesman said: “It’s taken just 10 weeks for Keir Starmer to face an investigation for his conduct.

“After facing allegations of cronyism and now apparent serious breaches of parliamentary rules there must be a full investigation into the passes for glasses scandal.”

It is unclear whether the PM will be investigated over the late declaration. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has not yet commented.

Victoria, who has been married to the PM since 2007, has made it clear she wants to stay out of the limelight and continue working in the NHS while living in Downing Street. But she has been at the PM’s side at a number of high profile events, such as a recent trip to the Nato summit in Washington.